Automatic code-ringer for magneto signal-bells.



No. 781,194. PATENTED JAN. 3l, 1905i '.l. "17 ELLIOTT.

AUTGMTIG GOUE RINGER PGR MAGNET() SIGNAL BELLS.

APPLIGATIUN FILED FEB. 20,1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LARKIN V. ELLIOTT, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 781,194, dated January31, 1905.

Application iiled February 20, 1904. Serial No. 194,542.

To all wiz/mn 1225 71cm/ concern,.-

Be it known that I, LARKIN V. ELLIOTT, a

4citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the countyof Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Code-Ringers for Magneto Signal-Bells, ofwhich the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to automatic coderingers for magnetosignal-bells, and is particularly adapted to be used in connection withrural telephones, wherel gei'ierally a plurality of telephonieinstruments are connected to a single wire for handl-ing communicationsbetween the several instruments, whereby the cost of putting intooperation and the maintenance of the system is greatly reduced over asystem employing an independent-wire for each instrument.

The object of this invention consists in providing each instrumentconnected to a single wire with a code which permits as many differentsignals to be secured as there are instruments, so that each subscriberis insured a signal which diii'ers from any one of the others. Themechanism employed for securing the signals is so arranged as to bewithin easy access of the user, who can quickly and effcctuallymanipulate the mechanism to securc the proper signal for the persondesired.

The nature of the invention and the arrange-` ment and construction ofthe various parts will first be fully described and the novel featuresthereof then pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts,Figure l is a partial front elevation and apar-tial section of atelephone-box and shows my automatic code-ringer in operating position.Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation and a partial sectional view of theconstruction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of theguide-rod for holding the recording-needle and shows the constructionfor mounting said lrod in insulated bearings.

In the drawings, l is the telephone-box of an old and well-knownconstruction and is employed for housing the magnet and signalingmechanism. An ordinary magnet, comprising the field 3 and revolublearmature eX- cited by the magnet, supports the signaling mechanism bymeans of the brackets 5. A bracket 5 is secured to each .side of themagnet for carrying the revoluble drum hereinafter described. Thebearings 5 also support the crank-shaft 6, by which means the drum andarmature are operated. A crank 7 is secured to the shaft 6 and isarranged outside the box l, so as to be within reach of the operator.The crank-shaft 6 is provided with the sprocket-wheel 8, and by means ofthe sprocket-chain 9, that leads to the sprocketwheel lO on thearmature-shaft 11, the armature is operated. The crank-shaft 6 on theend opposite the one carrying the crank 7 is provided with the pinionl2, and throughthe peculiar arrangement of the pinions 13, 14, l5, 16,and lT the rotation of the pinion 17 is greatly reduced. The pinion 17is rigidly secured to the crank-shaft that carries the revoluble drum18. The drum 18 is preferably made circular in form and has itsperiphery formed of a series of circumferentiallydisposed concavegrooves. These grooveslie parallel with one another and are providedwith depressions or notches 45 at intervals, which are cut into the faceof the drum. These notches 45 permit the insertion of any suitableinsulating-plugs 19, which are subsequently dressed down to conform withthe curvature of the drum to present a smooth surface. I may state thatthe grooves in thedrum 18 are preferably made concave. However, they maybe made convex or fiat, as desired, and instead of placing theinsulatingplugs 19 into the notches 45 these plugs may also be dispensedwith, in which inst-ance I employ the gaps or spaces created by theremoved plugs for interrupting the electric current, which will behereinafter more particularly described. The drum 18 is also providedwith a longitudinal insulated groove 40, which forms a seat for thecontacting needle and marks the termination of a complete revolution ofthe drum. The drum 18 is given a complete revolution when signaling, sothat the several insulated plugs or gaps in agiven groove are broughtinto play to secure a given signal.

IOO

A rod 20, suitably mounted in insulated bearings (see Fig. 3) in thebrackets 5, stands adjacent and parallel with the drum 18. This rod ispreferably formed square, so as to prevent rotating, and is alsoprovided with the adjustable block 21, which carries the adjustableneedle 22. that bears on the drum 18. The block 21 has longitudinalmovement on the rod 20, but is prevented from rotating by means of thesquare formation of the rod 20. As before stated, the block 21 carriesthe needle 22, which has the lower end formed to correspond and engagethe concave grooves in the periphery of the drum 18. The needle is heldinto contact with the drum by means of the spring 23. The upper end ofthe needle 22 extends through a slot in the box 1 and is provided at thetop with a pointer 25 and the knob 24, by which the needle may beshifted. Examining' Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the boxlis provided on its face with a series of names which represent theseveral subscribers on the line and correspond with the number ofgrooves in the periphery of the drum 18.

hen it is desired to call a subscriber, the person calling moves theneedle 22 by means of the knob 24 until pointer 25 overlies the name ofthe desired subscriber, when the mechanism is ready to be operated tosecure the proper signal. As before stated, the needle during thisoperation stands in the insulated groove 40, and hence no circuit isformed between the drum and the needle. The parts now being in position,the operator turns the crank 7 which operates both armature and the drum18 and which turning is continued until the drum has completed arevolution, during which time the needle 22 has been kept in constantcontact with the drum. The needle has therefore traversed the length ofone of the concave grooves and is again deposited into the longitudinalinsulated groove 40. At the besignal given.

the needle is traversing the metal portion ot' the groove and isinterrupted when the needle engages one of the insulations or gaps, andit will be readily understood that the length of the signal depends onthe metal surface exposed to the needle, while the lapse of timeintervening depends on the number of insulations or gaps, so that bylengthening one and shortening the other almost an unlimited number ofcodes can be secured. It may also be stated that the line-wires(notsho\vn)are connected to the magnet in the old and well-known manner.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I desire to secureby Letters Patent is- 1. In an automatic code-ringer for magnetosignal-bells, a rotatable drum provided with a series of parallelcircumferentially-disposed concave channels, circuit-breakers embeddedin the periphery of the drum and lying' within the concave channels, abar mounted adjacent and parallel to the drum, a needle slidabl ymounted on the bar, means on the needle and operating to hold saidneedle in contact with the drum, and means in the surface of the drum toengage the needle and operating` as a barrier for limiting' the rotationof the drum.

2. In an automatic code-ringer for magneto signal-bells, a rotatabledrum provided with a series of parallel cireumferentially-disposedconcave channels, circuit-breakers embedded in the periphery of the drumand lying within the concave channels, a bar mounted adjacent andparallel tothe drum, aneedle slidably mounted on the bar and inaradial-plane line to the axis of the drum, means on the needle to holdthe latter in contact with the drum, and means in the surface of thedrum to engage the needle and operating as a barrier for limiting therotation of the drum.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, indiana, this 15th day of February, A. D. 1904.

LARKIN V. ELLIOTT. lVitnesses:

A. S. CHILL, F. 1V. VOERNER

